Solar in Sumter, SC
With Duke Energy Progress's electricity at about 15.9¢ per kWh and 1,463 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Sumter home today: about a 11.6-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 11.6 yrsSouth Carolina: 11.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $29,886after paying $21,805
- Sun
- 1,463kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 15.9¢12% below U.S. average
A typical Sumter home, by the numbers
| Utility | Duke Energy Progress |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,206 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 8.9 kW, about 21 panels, 13,019 kWh a year (90% of use) |
| Cost | $25,305, or $21,805 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,979 |
| Payback | 11.6 years |
| Exported power | 3.5¢/kWh (Duke Energy Progress) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.9% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Sumter
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
- Single-family detached
- 65%
- Median home value
- $199k
- Median year built
- 1986
- Population
- 43,053
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 79%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 8,727 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Sumter
Public installation records for South Carolina don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in South Carolina.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Sumter
Is solar worth it in Sumter, SC?
For a typical home in Sumter, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 8.9 kW system costs about $21,805 after state incentives, saves about $1,979 in year one and pays back in about 11.6 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Sumter?
About 1,463 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 1% more than the South Carolina average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Sumter?
Most homes in Sumter are served by Duke Energy Progress, at about 15.9¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Black River Electric Cooperative, Fairfield Electric Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Sumter?
A fair cash price is around $2.95 per watt before incentives, so about $25,305 for a 8.9 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Columbia 10.9 yrs
- Florence 11.7 yrs
- Summerville 11 yrs
- Goose Creek 11.2 yrs
- North Charleston 11 yrs
- Rock Hill 12.7 yrs
- Conway 12.5 yrs
- Fort Mill 12.8 yrs
- All of South Carolina
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.